Latest news with #Tao
21-05-2025
- Business
Yalla Group Reports Strong Q1 Growth as Revenue and User Base Climb
Yalla Group, the leading MENA-based online social networking and gaming platform, posted robust financial results for Q1 2025, reporting significant gains in revenue, profit, and user engagement despite seasonal headwinds. The company recorded AED308.2 million (US$83.9 million) in revenue for the quarter ending 31 March, marking a 6.5% increase from the same period last year. Net income rose 17% year-over-year to AED133.7 million (US$36.4 million), with non-GAAP net income reaching AED143.6 million (US$39.1 million), reflecting a strong 46.6% non-GAAP net margin. Yalla's Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) surged to 44.6 million, a 17.9% increase from Q1 2024, signalling sustained growth and deepening user engagement across its platforms. Founder and CEO Yang Tao attributed the strong performance to the company's focus on enhancing user experience and operational efficiency. 'Despite seasonal factors such as Ramadan, we outperformed expectations, highlighting the resilience of our business model,' he said. Tao also emphasized Yalla's increased use of artificial intelligence in user behaviour analysis and data management, noting it has significantly improved decision-making and user retention. Group President Saifi Ismail echoed the optimism, pointing to the company's organic growth and minimal marketing spend. 'Our performance underscores the strength of our brand and the scalability of our platform,' he said, adding that continued investment in AI and data analytics is central to Yalla's long-term strategy. As the region's digital landscape evolves, Yalla Group remains focused on delivering sustainable growth through innovation, efficiency, and a user-first approach. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Huang Zitao successfully launches his sanitary napkins business
21 May - Huang Zitao has successfully sold 195,000 pieces of his sanitary napkins in just 15 minutes, just as he launched his brand Domyway on 18 May. The singer, who held the launch in Dongyang, Zhejiang, shared that the business is an important turning point in his life, and that he hopes people will think of him as Huang Zitao the entrepreneur and not Huang Zitao the celebrity whenever they see the brand. The sanitary napkin brand is sold for RMB49.80 for a pack of 62 pieces, and RMB 99.80 for 124 pieces. Each set includes mini pads, day-use pads, night-use pads, and sanitary pants. Tao also disclosed the factory arrangement of his product, saying that the factory currently has three fully automatic production lines, which can produce 1,200 sanitary napkins per minute. It also introduced traditional and AI dual systems for stain detection, with a scrap rate of only 2 percent. It is understood that the total investment in the brand was approximately RMB 275 million. He also thanked his own wife Xu Yiyang during the launch, saying that the singer has personally tested the product many times and even made suggestions for research and development. (Photo Source: Huang Zitao Weibo, Oriental Daily)
Tahya Masr
21-05-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Yalla Group announces strong financial results for Q1, 2025 reporting steady growth in revenues
Yalla Group Limited ("Yalla" or the "Company") (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, ending on March 31. The company reported quarterly revenue of AED 308.2 million (USD 83.9 million), a 6.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Net income for the quarter rose to AED 133.7 million (USD 36.4 million), marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase. On a non-GAAP basis, net income reached AED 143.6 million (USD 39.1 million), up 10.9 percent from the same quarter in 2024, with a non-GAAP net margin of 46.6 percent. Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) grew to 44.6 million, a 17.9 percent increase from 37.8 million in the corresponding period last year, underscoring the continued expansion and engagement of Yalla's user base across the region. Outperformed expectations Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yang Tao, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yalla said: 'We kicked off 2025 with a strong and promising first quarter. Despite seasonal factors such as Ramadan, we outperformed expectations, reflecting the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy. "Our steadfast commitment to enhancing user experience, improving operational efficiency, and deepening engagement across our platforms has contributed to healthy momentum. The improvements we've made to user acquisition and gamification are driving higher retention and increasing the value we deliver to our user base.' Tao highlighted that expanding the application of artificial intelligence technologies to analyze user behavior and manage data has significantly enhanced decision-making efficiency. He concluded: "Building on the continued success of our platforms and the company's ongoing development, we are leveraging this growth momentum to increase the value we deliver. We are committed to achieving sustainable returns for our shareholders and strengthening our leadership in the regional digital communication and entertainment sector." Sustainable growth For his part, Saifi Ismail, Group President at Yalla Group, said: 'We are very pleased with the strong operational results achieved this quarter, especially given the seasonal impact of Ramadan. The impressive growth in monthly active users, driven organically and without additional marketing spend, highlights the effectiveness of our product strategy and the growing strength of our brand across the region. This performance validates our focus on scalable, efficient growth and reinforces the solid foundation we've built for continued expansion.' "As the global economy adjusts to shifting macroeconomic dynamics, the MENA region stands out for its digital readiness, something which aligns well with our long-term strategy. We are particularly proud of the progress we've made in AI deployment, notably in our proprietary content moderation platform, which now leads the region in recognition speed and accuracy." He added: "As we look to the future, we are committed to driving sustainable, high-quality growth through product innovation, operational excellence, and enhanced user experience. Our continued investment in AI and data analytics is enabling smarter decision-making and greater agility in responding to market trends. These capabilities, combined with our strong regional positioning and scalable platform, put us in an excellent position to continue delivering value to both our users and shareholders.'
Japan Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Japan Times
'Memory keepers' pass on Hiroshima A-bomb survivors' stories
Since fiscal 2012, the Hiroshima city government has been training "memory keepers" — individuals who learn and pass on the testimonies of hibakusha, or atomic bombing survivors, along with their hopes for peace, to future generations on their behalf. As of April 1 this year, nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, only 29 hibakusha remained willing and able to publicly share their experiences, with an average age of 87.6. Meanwhile, the number of city-trained memory keepers has grown to about 240. They now play an active role in sharing these stories at schools across the country, including in Hiroshima. In February, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum hosted a lecture to revisit the experience of Masahiro Kunishige, who was exposed to radiation at a location about 2 kilometers from the epicenter of the nuclear explosion in the western city on Aug. 6, 1945, when he was 14 years old. He sustained burns to his face and left arm. Kunishige passed away in 2022 at the age of 91. Akemi Tao, a 74-year-old Hiroshima resident, served as a testimony successor at the event. Using photos and illustrations, she brought Kunishige's experience to life for an audience of about 10 people during a one-hour presentation. "When I nervously touched my face with both hands, the skin of my left cheek was hanging," Tao said, speaking on behalf of Kunishige. "When I returned home, both my parents welcomed me. I cried loudly, overwhelmed by relief, happiness and pain." Tao also provided her own reflections. "In war, it's ordinary citizens who suffer the most, especially vulnerable groups like the elderly and children," she said. "I hope to communicate the realities of the atomic bombing and contribute to preserving peace, even in a small way." Becoming a memory keeper requires about two years of training. Applicants study the realities of the U.S. nuclear attack and practice public speaking skills. They subsequently select hibakusha whose story they wish to convey, meet with the individuals to hear their experiences at firsthand, and prepare a draft lecture of around 10,000 written characters. After their draft is reviewed by staff from the city government's peace promotion section, applicants undergo practical training. Once they complete the process, they are officially commissioned by a city-affiliated organization to serve as storytellers. "I was told that my manuscript lacked impact, so I rewrote it many times. I almost gave up," Tao said, looking back on her training. Now, however, she is sometimes specifically requested by schools to give lectures. "I feel happy that I'm contributing to peace education," she said, adding that she hopes one day to recount Kunishige's story in English. The number of lectures given by such legacy successors is increasing, with 533 held in Hiroshima and 539 elsewhere during fiscal 2024, which ended in March this year. As their ranks grow, however, some memory keepers have reported having limited opportunities to present hibakusha stories. "We need to train (memory keepers) while hibakusha are still alive," a city official said. "We will work to create more opportunities for them (to speak)." In fiscal 2022, the city government began training "family memory keepers," who pass down the experiences of victims from their own families. As of April 1 this year, 39 people had been commissioned for the role. "To shed light on a wide range of experiences related to the atomic bombing, we hope to preserve the stories of those who are willing to share with their family members, even if they don't take part in public storytelling," a city official said. Ayako Hosokawa, a 67-year-old narrator of hibakusha stories from Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, has also been serving as a family memory keeper since fiscal 2023, preserving and sharing her aunt's experience. When she revealed to children attending her lecture that some atomic bombing survivors were reluctant to talk about their experiences, a number of audience members were surprised and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to hear her talk, according to Hosokawa. "I think (the children) reflected on the feelings of the citizens after nuclear weapons were used and realized how valuable it was for my aunt to share her experiences with them," she said. In September last year, the city government extended the recruitment period for hibakusha witnesses and family memory keepers from the month of May to the entire year, allowing atomic bombing survivors to apply when their health permits. "The project depends on the cooperation of hibakusha. We aim to introduce more initiatives that can ease their burdens," a city official said.
Black America Web
15-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Sony Says Price Hikes For The PlayStation 5 Are On The Table Because of Donald Trump's Stupid Tariffs
Source: RICHARD A. BROOKS / Getty / PlayStation 5 Sony announced its financial forecast for the next year, and the company expects Donald Trump's tariffs to impact its bottom line greatly. Spotted on The Verge , Sony expects Trump's stupid tariffs to impact its financial forecast by 100 billion yen (about $680 million). Sony is weighing different options to counter the tariffs, including moving manufacturing to the United States, which could raise the price of PS5 consoles. Sony CFO Lin Tao confirmed during a company earnings call that the company is considering 'passing on' the price of tariffs to counteract the tariffs. Tao did not mention the PlayStation 5 by name during the call, signaling that the company could look to raise prices elsewhere to avoid raising the price of the PS5 console. The PlayStation 5 has already seen price increases outside of the United States in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Europe. While Tao didn't mention the console, CEO Hiroki Totoki did when discussing possibly moving PS5 production to the US to minimize the effect of Donald Trump's tariffs. Totokoi said the PS5 console could be manufactured 'can be produced locally,' say it could be 'an efficient strategy,' that 'has to be considered going forward.' Sony still makes the PS5 in China, and even after the 90-day pause, the 30 percent tariff, which is a significant reduction from the 145 percent, is still above the 10 percent on imports into the United States from China. If Sony does decide to raise its prices, it won't be the first company to do so. Microsoft recently raised the price of its Xbox consoles by $100, while Nintendo has kept the price of the Switch 2 the same, opting to raise the prices of accessories instead. We may learn soon enough if Sony does raise the price of the PS5. Until then, you can see reactions to this unfortunate news that we can all blame on Donald Trump. Sony Says Price Hikes For The PlayStation 5 Are On The Table Because of Donald Trump's Stupid Tariffs was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
